Special Coverage

Unbridled's Note, Baffert at Oaklawn

UNBRIDLED'S NOTE doesn't receive much press, but he's one of the more versatile runners in the country.

A half-brother to Spoken Fur, winner of the Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes and Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, Unbridled's Note has triumphed on both wet and fast dirt, but really seems to enjoy the downhill turf course at Santa Anita. After finishing second behind MIZDIRECTION in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, he finished third in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on the main track and followed that race up with a good-looking win in the Joe Hernandez Handicap going down the hill on February 23.

Jockey Corey Nakatani felt that Unbridled's Note really gutted out the victory. "Sometimes they’re not on their game, and today he wasn’t on his best and he was still able to get the job done," said Nakatani. "The turf was a little soft, had a lot of cut to it and he kept switching leads on it. He’s better with a little bit of a target but the pace scenario just didn’t pan out like I thought it would. He ran a tremendous race either way.”

Trip handicappers began to follow Unbridled's Note after a traffic-filled journey when third, beaten only a half-length in the Grade 1 King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga last summer. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Unbridled's Note has won from on the lead, as in the Joe Hernandez, or from off the pace. He earned a 104 Beyer last week and has plenty of options in upcoming months.

*As for Mizdirection, she successfully stretched her speed to one mile in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes. Despite grabbing a left front quarter, Mizdirection went right to the top, rated beautifully and came home in 23 1/5.

"Mike (Smith) said he kind of got her to settle, and grabbed a pretty good-sized quarter off that foot, too, so we’re going to have to go to work on that after the race," said winning trainer Mike Puype, "It’s a testament to how tough she is."

*There's still life in old TRES BORRACHOS. The 8-year-old went over the million dollar mark in earnings with a courageous gate-to-wire tally in an allowance race at Santa Anita on February 22. Sent hard from the gate by Garrett Gomez, Tres Borrachos dueled with KEY DECISION through splits of 22.50 and 45.52 in the one-mile event. Key Decision eventually backed out to finish last, but Tres Borrachos kept battling. He was passed in the stretch by the underachieving HOORAYFORHOLLYWOOD, but roared back along the inside to win by a head. It was Tres Borrachos' first win since the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in 2011.

*SAHARA SKY is the hottest sprinter in Southern California after taking the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes on February 23. He earned an identical speed figure (102) as in his previous start, a similar rallying win in the Grade 2 Palos Verdes on January 19. Sahara Sky's lifetime form is a bit dirty due to racing on synthetic and turf on seven occasions (record of 7-1-0-4). On dirt, he is 7-5-2-0 and he will attempt to sweep the meet's major sprint races in the Potrero Grande on April 6. The Met Mile on Memorial Day may be a long-term goal.

*UNBRIDLED'S NOTE's lifetime past performances are available at the bottom of this blog post.

*WAGSON was claimed for $30,000 by trainer Allen Milligan from Steve Asmussen.

*LATE STARTER was claimed for $35,000 by trainer Bruce Brown from David Jacobson.

***

Dan, will you please post the pp's for I'll Have Another, Animal Kingdom and Super Saver? Thanks
Dan, earlier I asked for the pp's of the past three Derby winners. Will you please add Big Brown and Mine That Bird on? I'm trying to find out what these Derby winners have in common. I believe that if a horse has a lot in common with past winners it's a pretty strong angle. I don't see something that the past five winners had in common being a coincidence or a fluke.
Brandon Layer

The past performances for the five Derby winners are available at the bottom of this blog post.

***

Does anyone know when or if INDY'S ILLUSION will be returning from the witness protection program?
Leonard Indelicato

It shouldn't be long now. He has worked three times this month, including a half-mile breeze in 50.22 yesterday morning.

***

Congrats to JONATHAN for finishing first in last week's HandiGambling exercise.

PENN NATIONAL RICK'S WEEKLY SCORESHEET IS AVAILABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG POST.

Penn National Rick selected Saturday's Gotham Stakes from Aqueduct as this weekend's race.

PAST PERFORMANCES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG POST.

Remember that you have a mythical $100 with which to wager on the race, and the entrant with the highest money total will receive a "Monthly Enhanced 60-Card Past Performance Plan."

Anyone going over the $100 limit will be disqualified.

Please post your plays and analysis to the blog.

PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME OR BLOG MONIKER AT THE END OF THE HG PLAY AND/OR ANALYSIS.

Please separate the play from the analysis and label the play "HG" with the program numbers (instead of the horse's name) for easier scoring.
In the event of a tie, the earliest post gets first preference. One entry per person please.

I reserve the right to approve or deny any entries.

I know that there is a time issue for some of you, but let's remember why we began the HandiGambling races in the first place. The goal was to share ideas on why we like these horses, and why we're betting them the way we are. I'm not asking for a novel, but if you could spare a sentence or two outlining your handicapping angles, and thought processes about wagering, it would be appreciated.

***FROM SCOREKEEPER PENN NATIONAL RICK***

I read some entries on here and there are some people who put their heart out on their picks(such as DavidM9999) and give you great analysis on who they like and why and then there are others who elect not to give any reasoning behind their entries. The rule I will implement EFFECTIVE 3/1/13 will be... any entry without ANY analysis will be ignored. We are not asking you to put out a novel, but again a sentence or two. Also, I will put communication out when Dan puts out new blogs.
My intent is not to be jerk on this, but what's fair is fair. I'm not taking away from this week or past winners regarding all of this, but we do need to make the change.
If you have any questions/conce­rns...please send an email to FORMBLOG@DRF.CO­M and it will get forwarded to me.
Thank You!
Rick

REMEMBER, IF YOU ARE DECLARED THE WINNER OF THE HANDIGAMBLING EXERCISE, PLEASE CONTACT FORMBLOG@DRF.COM WITH YOUR DRF LOGIN AND PASSWORD IN ORDER TO ACCESS YOUR PRIZE PACKAGE.

ALSO, IF THE WINNER WOULD LIKE TO SELECT THE FOLLOWING WEEK'S RACE, PLEASE CONTACT FORMBLOG@DRF.COM NO LATE THAN THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY MORNING (A FRIDAY RACE IS MOST IDEAL).

Best of luck to all.

***

Will be back Saturday with the HG analysis and some weekend thoughts.
You can follow me on Twitter @DRF_DanIllman.

HG
$20 EXACTA 8 with 1,3,7,10,11
Love McLaughlin off layoff. Elwaani is well bred with excellent connections (Shadwell).
Overanalyze logical but tough post. Vyjack has steady works and tactical speed to win.
Good Luck
Monk

monk

More than 1 year ago

I am reposting because first didn't take
HG
$20 EXACTA 8 with 1,3,7,10,11
I like Elwaani. McLaughlin off layoff, well bred with solid connections to upset
Overanalyze and Vyjack who might get used up in speed duel. Overanalyz logical fave but outside post tough Good Luck Monk

PennNatRick

More than 1 year ago

Just a heads up...NYRA added Superfecta Wagering.

monk

More than 1 year ago

HG
$20 Exacta 8 with 1,3,7,10,11
Like Mclaughlin off layoff, breeding and connections for Elnaawi.
Overanalyze is logical choice but fights other speed from outside post. Similar for Vyjack.
Good Luck
Monk

Chicagogerry

More than 1 year ago

Dan,
Regarding the Hg race was thinking Vyjack has the look of an undefeated runner. Sometimes these types can stay good- Smarty Jones, Barbaro, etc,, You never know, and he looks as good as any in here. I liked that he won thrice at the Big A. Thrice = 3 x's; once in 2013, and 2wice as a 2 year old, Also, I think Overanalyze will get penalized a tiny bit by rhe wagering public for the run put in by Ice Box at the Fairgrounds last week.. I would think Pletcher will have him ready though, although I guess there is still time to get the points he needs for the Derby. I am sure he hopes he does not have to take another Derby contender, off the trail. So I am going chalk on this one, Dan. Liked your Gotham and Big Cap ROD's analysis. Your Gotherm pick was creative one Some of the non-favorite picks I have read from the Drf and others, were EscapeFR, Elnaawi, and Sku Captain. For the SAH Handsome Mike, Stephanoatsee, and Call To Serve.It is hard for me to see someone jump up past the two favorites. I Guess I might throw Call to Serve and Richrard's Kid in the mix Good comments as usual, by the HG'rs.Good luck Dan.

Rick

More than 1 year ago

HG
$100 EX 11/3
Velasquez overcomes post, not much in here and if 11 runs back to last he wins easily. EscapeFromReality is improving and against this field provides most value.
Rick

Jay Van Horn

More than 1 year ago

The more I look at the Big Cap today at Santa Anita the more I like Game On Dude. Assigning this horse 125 lbs makes this a true handicap indeed. Called To Serve, the favorite to upset is carying 118, Stephanoatsee 116 and Guilt Trip 117. Clubhouse Ride who just ran 2nd to the Dude will carry 115. And last years winner, Ron The Greek will carry 122. That being said, who can capitalize on it. I have Game On Dude in front by 5L turning for home and he seems primed to very well run the best race of his life. Ron The Greek will bounce. He's coming off one of his best efforts of his career over an off track and will now ship cross country. Called To Serve is the buzz horse. His improving beyers and $tevens in the saddle may put him in the winners circle. He hasnt raced in a couple months so his only flaw is conditioning and the 1 1/4 distance. Stephanoatsee has worked once since his last race and Guilt Trip, coming out of the same race as Stephanoatsee has worked 3 times. Including a bullet at 4 F. It either shows us the different training styles of Baffert and Motion or the current condition of the horses. Hard to disect regardless of truth...
Originally, I was going to use Game On Dude and Stephanoatsee on my P4 ticket but I think Im going to single the Dude and get more coverage in race 11 which is a straight up guessing game. Still undecided. I will post my final P4 wager at 5:30pm est. One hour before the P4 begins. I want to see how the track is playing. Another possible single could be Suggestive Boy in race 9. Mr. Commons beat him in the B.C. Mile but that was then, this is now and Suggestive Boy may be better today. Its a great card today at S.A. I cant wait for the show to start baby!!!

Suheil

More than 1 year ago

apparantly forgot to sign off on my opinion and bets for the Gotham. would not want to get DQ for not signing
Suheil

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Good luck to all the MKB horses running today!
Three MKBs are probable for the Tampa Bay Derby next Sat.:
DAVID M'S Honorable Dillon
CASEYJEAUX'S Purple Egg
SWEDE'S Dynamic Sky
Annie